Voices Magazine Summer 2024

ZIS

Summer 2024

• It’s work, just not as you know it • Life sciences: ZIS leads the way • How to create lifelong readers • Water use: time to step up • Celebrate Sechseläuten

For the ZIS community – at home in Zurich and around the world

Voices

Summer 2024 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS MICHAELA SEEGER mseeger@zis.ch EDITOR

RACHEL DITCHFIELD rditchfield@zis.ch ON THE COVER

ELLA TEPLITSKY-KAHN (p29) PHOTOGRAPHED

BY KATE PETERS LETTERS AND ENQUIRIES

ZURICH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS STEINACHERSTRASSE 140 8820 WÄDENSWIL SWITZERLAND ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES voices@zis.ch

UNSUBSCRIBE

zis.ch/address-update Zurich International School (ZIS) was formed in 2001 through the merger of the American International School of Zurich (AISZ) and the International Primary School of Zurich (IPSZ).

For the ZIS community – at home in Zurich and around the world

24

02 News

Medicine by design The ZIS community members leading in life sciences.

05 From the Director Lisa Lyle 06 Community

09 The future of...

Sustainable water use Julie Lindley 10 Connections Greg Galimberti and Nick Amstutz

11 24 hours in New York With Mike Day

18

12

Transformation How to succeed in an ever-changing working environment.

The opinions expressed in ZIS Voices are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Zurich International School or YBM ZIS Voices is produced on behalf of ZIS by YBM

ybm.co.uk

29 My passion Ella Teplitsky-Khan, Grade 4 30 Canton Celebrating Sechseläuten 32 My working day Christian Heraty

Page-turners Why the art of reading is about so much more than just words on a page.

Voices

News

Socials

#ZISExperience #ZISLearns #ZISCares #ZISAlumni #GoZISLions Facebook zurichintschool

Instagram zurich-international-school LinkedIn zurich-international-school YouTube ZurichIntS

Join the community globalcommunity.zis.ch

Sustainability

Be part of it – ZIS Sustainable School activity off to a flyer

ZIS held its first Sustainability Day in February, part of its ongoing drive to instil a culture of sustainability among students and the wider community. On the day, students were encouraged to consider alternative ways to get to school, take specific steps to reduce energy use and avoid single-use plastics.

As a Sustainable School, ZIS is committed to working towards net zero.

Activity is focused around four specific areas: transport, waste, energy and tech recycling. A recent campaign highlighted the different ways that students could get to school, including the HitchHike carpool scheme, the Village Liner and Secondary Campus shuttle, and the public transport on offer. Meanwhile, ZIS is committed to reducing single-use plastics to zero, fresh water consumption by 50 per cent and trash by 30 per cent, and to ensure all paper and cardboard is recycled – by August 2024.

In terms of energy, a number of initiatives are already in motion, while the Annual Fund will help fund the installation of solar panels across ZIS, part of the school’s ambition to switch to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

“Our vision is for all ZIS students to join and strengthen a global community of citizens, determined to make a difference to the organizations and communities in which they work and live,” says Stefan Mühlemann, Chief Operating Officer. “We want to practice what we preach – to live up to our mission that commits us to learn, care, challenge and lead.”

2

To get involved and be part of the campaign, visit zis.ch/annual-fund

75 Careers forum

%

of panelists at recent Grade 10 Career Forum were alumni – could you be next?

To learn more about our panelists, visit the Career Forum website at zis.ch/career-forum and contact us at alumni@zis.ch if you would be interested in taking part this coming fall.

ZIS Voices

Partnerships

ZIS is proud to be giving students real-world experience by partnering with industry, such as its current collaboration with Mondelez on the spring Impact Challenge, asking students to design a solution to promote mindful eating. Also, Upper School students recently visited the research and development centre of Hilti Fleet Management to experience how products are designed and manufactured.

If you have something our students could be involved in, contact Head of Development Reid Alan Ching on rching@zis.ch

School Director

Auf Wiedersehen Lisa, our “outstanding leader”

Heading home

Deputy Director Mark Schulz heads home

ZIS bids farewell to another of its senior staff this summer, Deputy Director Mark Schulz, as he prepares to return to Adelaide with his wife Vicki Gallard, a Lower School Assistant Teacher. Mark joined in 2008 as Director of Curriculum and Professional Learning, then became the school’s first Deputy Director in 2013.

“I will certainly miss the colleagues and friends here, the work environment, culture and ethos – and of course being in the centre of Europe,” says Mark.

“It’s been fantastic to work with such a high quality Strategic Leadership Team – on things like the compensation review and the introduction of the bilingual pathway – and I will miss dealing with the complexity of a big organisation aimed at doing good things.”

As a commissioner on the NEASC Commission on International Education, Mark will continue to lead accreditation teams visiting schools around the world.

Fond farewell

Dale Braunschweig leaves after 46 years

ZIS has been celebrating the achievements and impact of Lisa Lyle, as she leaves this summer after five years as Director.

Carl Hollitscher, Chair of the ZIS Board of Trustees, said: “Lisa is an outstanding leader in education and I very much enjoy working with her on strategic initiatives at ZIS. Her love for education and children enables a focus on further strengthening certain subjects, such as German and STEM, and her openness has helped the local integration of the school.

“Embracing Social Emotional Learning at ZIS has also made significant progress under Lisa’s leadership.

Her experience, foresight and strategic thinking helped a lot with the execution of the current strategic plan, the new Middle School to advance the two-hub model and the introduction of the bilingual pathway.”

Elsa Hernandez-Donohue, who taught at our Lower School from 2004 to 2006, joins ZIS as our Director from Vientiane International School in Laos, where she was Head of School.

Read Lisa’s final column in Voices on page 5.

News

ZIS’s longest-serving member of staff, Dale Braunschweig, leaves this summer, after an incredible 46 years at the school.

Dale was a driving force in the establishment of the Middle School, due to her concern that the leap from primary to high school was too big.

She became the Coordinator of the Middle School in 1987 and then, following the merger between AISZ and IPSZ in 2001, the Head of Admissions, a role she fulfilled for 14 years before her “retirement” to the part-time position of Internship Program Coordinator in 2015.

“I can’t help but feel proud of the Middle School,” says Dale, “seeing the need for it, getting it started and being its coordinator. I’m thrilled to see where it is now.”

Lower School

Welcome Junlah

Junlah Madalinski has been appointed as the next Lower School Principal, joining from Schutz American School in Alexandria, Egypt, where she was Assistant Principal of the Lower School.

“Junlah brings to life her commitment and passion for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging through her daily work and life experience,” says incoming Director Elsa Hernandez-Donohue.

Junlah joins in August with her husband Nik and their children Savanh and Santi. “I am thrilled and honored to be joining ZIS’s vibrant learning community,” says Junlah, “and I am confident that we can work together to create a learning environment where all students, teachers and parents feel valued, respected and supported.”

3

An extraordinary adventure of growth and ambition To mark her retirement, our Director Lisa Lyle reflects on her five years leading the ZIS community.

• Photography Billy Howard

M

From the Director

y first memory of ZIS? The vibrant community. It was Spectacular new facilities have created a vibrant Secondary apparent even on my initial visit as a candidate – and Campus, and numerous upgrades to the Lower School enable I was captivated. For those of you who are bread bakers, this us to educate all students in purpose-built facilities on two will make sense: just like you know a loaf of bread will be campuses. Enrollment and retention have never been higher, great just from the smell of the dough, I knew that ZIS would a testament to the continuous improvement efforts across continue to thrive and grow, and so would I. Of course, what all divisions, including the new Bilingual Pathway, which has I didn’t know was that my ZIS journey, beginning in August allowed us to attract and retain families long-term.

2019, would unfold into an extraordinary adventure of growth Over the past few years, we have recognized the need for and ambition. greater focus on social-emotional learning, ensuring every The vision set forth by the Board of Trustees was bold: to member of our community feels known and valued. While make ZIS the premier international education institution in our international community guarantees broad perspectives the Greater Zurich Area. Together, we crafted a strategic plan and life experiences, we must all endeavor to be eager to learn to guide us towards this lofty goal and embarked on a journey the stories of those around us and to grow our cross-cultural of collaboration, hosting more than 30 gatherings where skills. Polarization threatens communities everywhere, and I constituents shared their aspirations for our school’s future. am confident ZIS will continue to weave fibers of community I am profoundly grateful to the Board for their partnership with effort and great joy. In this way, ZIS will indeed be the and their steadfast dedication to excellence. community where our students – and we all – learn to be Though Covid kept the Strategic Leadership Team on its active, compassionate and effective leaders and members of toes initially, they never flagged in their efforts to implement the global community. strategic initiatives targeted by the Board. Each and every Indeed, ZIS exemplifies the type of school the world member of the SLT has provided powerful leadership across needs – one that inspires excellence, fosters community, and our divisions and many work teams. They demonstrate an cultivates global citizenship. I will always treasure traveling unwavering commitment to ZIS’s mission of Learn, Care, with students to the Villars Institute, where I witnessed firstChallenge, Lead and our vision to prepare students to join hand the power of a ZIS education: our students, confident, a global community of citizens, determined to make a competent and committed to making the world a better place. difference. I am so grateful for their efforts and partnership.

At my prior schools, developing global citizens was an abstract Students, alumni and parents have lots of stories to share about why they love our school, and most Our students are confident, competent and often these focus on the ZIS community and on individual teachers who have had a big impact. committed to making the world a better place.

Over the past five years, I have seen amazing acts of At previous schools, developing global citizens selflessness, courage and compassion as the fibers of our community held during the pandemic and was an abstract ideal. At ZIS, it is a reality significant global conflicts.

Our teachers are the best I’ve ever worked with, striking the balance between challenge and support, nurturing ideal. At ZIS, it is a reality. I pass the torch to Elsa Hernandezeach student’s unique potential. They work indefatigably to Donohue with confidence, knowing that ZIS is poised for offer a plethora of opportunities for students to find purpose, continued success under her visionary leadership. passion – and fun! – in and out of the classroom.

Do know that as I leave, my heart is filled with gratitude As I bid farewell, there is much to celebrate. Our to have had this opportunity to be a part of this amazing commitment to high-impact teaching and learning, and community for this final chapter in my career. data-informed decision-making, has never been stronger.

Auf Wiedersehen, ZIS. Z 5

Community • Illustration Carla McRae

Mike Day to speak ZIS is delighted to welcome back Mike Day, Class of 1999 (1994-99), as this year’s Graduation speaker.

Mike graduated from Duke in 2003 and is now Lead Portfolio Manager at Goldman Sachs in New York.

“When I was asked to speak, I was equally thrilled at the idea of returning to Zurich and humbled at the trust put in me to contribute to this hugely important day for the whole ZIS community. It’s a tremendous honor to be able to join you in June, and to continue to be a part of a community that has meant so much to me and my family over the years!” This summer’s event will celebrate the school’s 60th graduating class.

Reconnections Alumni from the 1960s met recently to celebrate their enduring bond. Pictured below are: Bruce Hall, Class of 1967 (1965-1967); Heidi Campini, Class of 1969 (1965-1967); Susan Hall, Class of 1965 (1965); and Tom Mabey, Class of 1966 (1965-1966). While in December, 50 members of the alumni community from 1982 to 2023 met at no idea bar in Zurich, founded by Andrew Sutton, Class of 2011 (1996-2011), for an annual holiday party.

Elsewhere, Dan Floersheimer, Class of 1977 (1972-77) and Gregory Galimberti, Class of 2007 (2001-07), hosted ZISMeets events in Florida and Houston respectively.

And two more events in Zurich are planned for the summer: a 10-year reunion in July, organised by members of the Class of 2014; and a 20-year event planned for the Class of 2004 by Pete Morgan (2000-04) in August.

To register, or if you would like to plan an event in your part of the world, share your ideas at alumni@zis.ch.

6

ZIS Voices

ZIS Gazette • Emerging talent award

Tatenda Shamiso, Class of 2018 (2014-2018), has been awarded London’s Evening Standard Theatre Award in the Emerging Talent category for a one-man play he wrote and performed titled ‘NO I.D.’ at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

“ZIS is an integral part of my artistic identity,” says Tatenda. “It encouraged me to be thorough and inquisitive in my creative pursuits and in the ways of the world. I also live in London with ‘NO I.D.’ set designer Claudia Casino, Class of 2018 (2003-18), so ZIS has also provided me some lifelong friendships and artistic partnerships that I wouldn’t sacrifice for the world.”

• New home for Mr Spinner

A stone bust, affectionately called Mr Spinner, that was a prominent feature at the Spinnergut Villa, is now proudly on display at the Secondary Campus. Do you remember it? Let us know at alumni@zis.ch

• Ben leads on AI

Ben Hallen, Class of 1997 (1992-95), was part of a panel delivering a program on Generative AI for Business Leaders, a collaboration between divisions of the University of Washington. The program was designed to give business leaders a working understanding of GenAI and its potential impact on their roles, teams and industries.

• Stay connected

“The thing that connects us is the memories,” says Jutta Heller, Class of 1991 (1986-91), who recently hosted a 1980s virtual reunion.

If you would like to host a virtual reunion contact us at alumni@zis.ch.

Got something to share? Tell us your news by emailing alumni@zis.ch⁠

Community

Gratitude to Philip Ryan after 25 years ZIS extends its sincere gratitude to Philip Ryan for 25 years of service as a key volunteer at school. Philip, who was the first chair of the ZIS Board of Trustees, is stepping down as a member of the ZIS Foundation, a role he has held since 2018. Having been instrumental in the school's fundraising program, Philip was co-chair of the capital campaign to raise CHF 10 million for the Upper School building in Adliswil.

“The impact Phil has made on our community is exceptional and we are deeply grateful to him,” says Director Lisa Lyle.

Philip and his wife Elizabeth, who was a member of the IPSZ board, have three children: Perry and Charlotte, Class of 2008 (1999-2005), and Stuart, Class of 2005 (1999-2005).

Para champion Carlo hits the heights Despite cancer treatment that left him paralysed, Carlo Valsecchi, Class of 2011 (2004-11) refused to give up his dream of playing top level sport, and went on to be crowned para-badminton Swiss Doubles Champion in 2022, with a second place last year. “ZIS coaches are invested in helping players reach their dreams,” says Carlo. “I feel like I have found a new reason to push myself to new heights. I encourage everyone to reach for the stars.”

7

The future of...

Water is key to solving the energy challenge, and we all need to step up says Julie Lindley, current parent and Vice President at Ecolab / Nalco Water.

• Interview Jo Caird • Illustration Helen Green

T

Sustainable water use

Julie Lindley’s top tips for reducing water usage For those in industry Be curious, ask questions at your company.

Try to understand what you are doing from a sustainability perspective, including within your supply chains.

For those in other sectors Even those outside industry have an impact on water. Be aware that what you do and what you buy has an impact on the planet.

For consumers It’s really hard to make the right choices as a consumer because global supply chains are complex and you only know what companies choose to reveal. But considering the fact that everything you buy or do has a water footprint – and reflecting on how you can reduce your own – is a good start.

here is one common denominator across the world of industry, one ingredient that, no matter what you make – from plastic or steel, to cheese and beer – is essential. That ingredient is water.

Water has myriad uses in industry, from cleaning and cooling to pasteurising, pumping and diluting. When these industrial processes were developed, from the late 1800s, water was cheap, abundant and high quality. Processes were therefore designed to use water once and dump it.

Fast-forward 150 years and we’re dealing with the impacts of climate change, one of which is water scarcity. That can mean drought conditions creating a lack of enough water to make products, but it can also mean having too much water – the result of floods, for example – which can be of such low quality that companies have to treat it before it can be used.

Managers are always thinking about how they keep their costs down and their plants running efficiently; now they have this additional variable.

On top of that you have companies needing to meet the sustainability commitments they made over the past 15 years around reducing freshwater use and greenhouse gas emissions from energy usage. You can’t talk about water without talking about energy, because to heat, cool and move or pump water, you need energy. If you’re using much more water than you need to, you’re using much more energy than you need to, which leads to higher emissions. These businesses are now facing a crunch because they haven’t been making enough changes to meet their sustainability goals in good time. In a lot of cases, in fact, they are still in the dark as to what’s even required to meet their commitments.

Reducing water use is the first step. There’s an incredible volume of water, particularly on the municipal side, that’s lost to leaks, for example.

Next is reuse – like taking water used to clean equipment to wash down factory floors. Rainwater capture is another tool in the arsenal. And the next step after that is recycling – companies treating their water and using it again, rather than simply sending it to the sewer.

Organisations are starting to change how they make their products, but many find it hard to go there until they have to because it takes time and money and there’s risk. Businesses like ours are there to help them on that journey. Companies used to feel like they had to choose between being profitable or being sustainable. Now Companies used to choose there’s a lot of excitement in industry that you can have both, and the funding between being profitable for innovation around a circular economy for water is coming from or being sustainable – a wide range of sources. now you can have both The big multinationals have their own R&D people working on finding solutions to this challenge, but they are also investing in startups and venture funds supporting this innovation. There’s also a huge amount of research and development taking place. It all makes me very hopeful that good things are coming and that industry will do its part to help save water and energy for our shared planet. Z 9

Connections: Friends hit the perfect pitch

The beautiful game has led to a beautiful friendship between Greg Galimberti and Nick Amstutz, on and off the field.

• Words Jo Caird

O

Greg Galimberti, Class of 2007 (2001-07) and Nick Amstutz, Class of 2007 (1998-2007).

10

n the first day of Middle School, Greg Galimberti and Nick Amstutz bonded over… a Dortmund backpack. “I was new at the school so I didn’t know anyone, and I saw this kid wearing a backpack from the soccer team I loved,” says Greg, Class of 2007 (2001-07).

The pair got chatting about soccer and a firm friendship was born. And it turned out that Greg and Nick, Class of 2007 (1998-2007), had not just one soccer team in common, but two. Both were also avid supporters of the Grasshoppers, the Zurich club that in those days regularly topped the Swiss football league.

“Greg’s grandfather had very nice season tickets, so we’d go to matches all the time, even on weeknights,” says Nick. “We went to at least 70 per cent of the games,” adds Greg. “We even went to some away games within Switzerland.”

That meant quite a few late nights and, with Greg commuting to ZIS from his parents’ home in Liechtenstein, it often made sense for him to stay over at Nick’s. “We developed a very close relationship over the years,” says Nick. “Even our parents became friends.”

Soccer wasn’t just a spectator sport for the boys, of course. They played at school, both in their spare time and, in later years, on the ZIS varsity squad with the “fantastic” Nick Bentley on the Brunnemoos field (although the less said about the sand pitch by the highway in Thalwil the better). Tournaments took them all around Europe, with visits to Paris, Munich and London in the company of a gang of friends. “Those are all very memorable trips, the usual redacted stuff,” says Nick with a smile. Greg nods, adding:

“They were a good learning experience.

We’d get in trouble sometimes, absolutely.

But within reason, and over time you figure out your limits and balances.”

Winter sports were another shared passion, both boys spending weekends and Christmas holidays with their families in the Engadine.

“Greg is a very aggressive and fast skier, while I’m a snowboarder and we tend to be a little bit more relaxed,” says Nick. “But somehow it all worked out. I could keep up with him.”

These days, with Greg living in Texas and Nick in Singapore, they don’t often get the chance to get together, but still managed to be each other’s best man. And on the rare occasions that they find themselves back in Europe over Christmas, “long lunches on the slopes followed by meandering routes back down to the valley” are the order of the day, Nick says.

However, with Greg travelling to Singapore for work at least once a year, it’s in Asia where the friends reconnect most frequently. Whether hanging out over drinks or dinner in the city, Nick and Greg always find it easy to pick up where they left off, bonding over soccer and shared memories of their time at ZIS. Year round, too, it’s Dortmund that brings them together, just as it has since the very beginning of the friendship. “In Asia it’s difficult to catch European games because of the time difference, but for the bigger games, I stay awake and Greg and I will chat. And when something important happens, I know I’ll be discussing it with him in the morning!” Z

ZIS Voices

24 hours... in New York City

Mike Day, Class of 1999 (1994-99), is Lead Portfolio Manager, Multi-Asset Solutions at Goldman Sachs, and loves the NY vibe.

09.00 Kick-start your day Pick an area like the East Village or Chelsea and find yourself a little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop – there are hundreds, with new ones opening up all the time – to get you moving, on the move.

12.00 A view to a thrill I love finding great viewpoints when I’m travelling.

There’s a great new development on the Hudson River called Little Island where you can see the entire river, right down to the Statue of Liberty.

13.00 Hungry? Go Italian...

For lunch or dinner, I’m a big fan of Barbuto in the West Village. It’s the brainchild of a chef from California who fell in love with Italian cooking.

They use tons of fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Greg (yellow shirt) and Nick (to his left) in the 2006 Boys Varsity Soccer team.

“I was new at school, didn’t know anyone, and then I saw this kid wearing a backpack from Dortmund, the soccer team I loved” Connections

15.00 Hit the trail Walking is my favourite way to see NY but cycling is also fantastic, especially the Manhattan Greenway Trail, a waterfront trail from Harlem to Battery Park with great views of the Hudson.

21.00 After hours Pastis is a French brasserie in the Meatpacking district that I love, and Corner Bistro does a great burger. Then pick a district – the West Village has great wine bars and jazz – and go with the flow! #ZIStravels

11

12

ZIS Voices

Blockbuster1. Best-seller2. Page-turner3.

Cliffhanger4 – a good book is that most treasured of possessions5, a window into other worlds6 that are full of characters and landscapes we love to love7. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...

• Words Lucy Jolin • Photography Kate Peters

T

“

1

William Halsey (Grade 11) reading his favourite book The Way of Kings, an epic fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson set on Roshar, a world of stone and storms in the Cosmere universe.

For the love of reading

o learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark,” wrote Victor Hugo in Les Misérables. And at ZIS, that fire is nourished every day, ensuring it can burn for a lifetime. But why is learning to read such an essential part of a child’s development? And how, in an age of screens, can we encourage our children to become lifelong readers?

“Reading isn’t just a pleasurable experience,” writes Barbara Sahakian, professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge, “it’s widely accepted that it inspires thinking and creativity, increases empathy and reduces stress.” Sahakian was co-author of a study among young adolescents in the US that found that children who begin reading for pleasure early in life tend to perform better at cognitive tests and have better mental health when they become teenagers. “We found significant evidence that it’s linked to important developmental factors in children, improving their cognition, mental health and brain structure, which are cornerstones for future learning and well-being.”

And it all begins at home, so if you’re wondering how to give your kids the best start in life, just open a book. “Be a reading role model,” says Katherine Deutsch, Lower School Curriculum Development and Instructional Coach. “I personally think it’s important that they see us reading things that are not our phones! Create a cosy spot for children to read, whether that’s on the couch together or in a child’s room with a variety of books that they can access.

“Reading together every day is, to me, one of the most important things that parents can do. It helps the child develop vocabulary and oral language skills, and it’s also a great bonding experience. In fact, for the most part, home learning at the Lower School is students being expected to read every day.”

Leigh Williams, Head of English, Secondary Campus, agrees that reading is a joy to be shared. “Ask your kids: what’s this book about? What do you think is interesting about it? Which characters do you find most engaging or relatable? Just having those regular conversations about books reinforces the idea that what the student is reading is important 13

and you care about it. Or try reading the same books as your children: if my kid is reading James Baldwin, I’ll make sure that I’m reading James Baldwin, too, so we can talk about it.”

Of course, schools have a vital part to play, which is why reading is woven into daily life at ZIS. “Literacy creates the foundation for most of the experiences that a child has in school, and eventually in the world,” explains Katherine. “Reading and writing skills are crucial for socialising with other children because they involve listening, speaking and understanding what someone is saying. Literacy is critical for solving problems, reasoning and making decisions, and then eventually building independence as a learner and as a citizen within society.”

Reading isn’t just a pleasurable experience, it’s widely accepted that it inspires thinking and creativity, increases empathy and reduces stress

It’s why a typical day at the Lower School begins with – you guessed it – reading. As well as talking about exciting things that have happened or what they’re looking forward to that day, children often share stories they’ve written themselves, or books that they love. But it doesn’t stop there. Teachers read aloud to students every day, while regular workshops allow lots of independent reading and writing time.

Each workshop begins with a mini-lesson lasting five or ten minutes, which teaches a strategy or a skill. Then students are encouraged to go and read. Sometimes a teacher might recommend a particular book to a child, but students usually select their own titles. “This workshop structure allows teachers the opportunity to interact in small groups or one-on-one with students and help them progress as readers and writers,” explains Katherine.

As students mature and grow, says Leigh, they gradually learn that literacy is a lifelong process: they will take the skills they learn in Middle and Upper School to university and beyond. “We take the time to really celebrate reading. We make time and space for it, giving students lots of options and opportunities. The Middle School does a great job of continuing to get kids to read, even as social media is pulling them away. We try to make it interesting and engaging and fun.”

The library brims with more complex, longer texts – many with audiobooks, so students can listen and read, and including books published by alumni. Reading is still an essential

What is ‘normal’ when a child is learning to read

When it comes to learning to read, says Katherine Deutsch, it’s helpful to compare the process to those early developmental milestones such as sitting up, crawling and walking. The majority of children will reach those in their own good time, some much earlier than others, and ZIS is on hand to monitor that progress and react appropriately. “We understand that babies develop at a different pace and that variations in that development are normal,” she says.

“In the same way, children progress through a predictable pattern of developmental stages as readers and writers, and it’s important that parents have a general understanding of what

14

typical milestones might be. Children go from just speaking and listening and then beginning to pick up the pencil and draw shapes on a page – those emergent writing stages – to being able to understand that the squiggles on a page are actually a code that they can decode and read. That happens between the ages of three and six or seven for most kids. But it’s equally important to recognise that every child is unique and is going to progress at their own pace.”

And on the ZIS Bilingual Pathway, students learn how to read in their stronger language first. “We call this the students’ language A,” says Dr Christiane Charon, Head of the Bilingual Pathway.

“These skills, once acquired, are then transferable to other languages – for example, language B or indeed their home language if this is a language other than English or German. Students develop these skills and transfer at their own pace.”

ZIS Voices

2–3

Nicholas Mueller (Grade 1) loves The Sour Grape by Jory John and Pete Oswald, with its ripe humour, deeply held grudges and heartfelt lessons of forgiveness.

For the love of reading

Lower School Librarian Orlagh Ryan recommends The Mysterious Sea Bunny

by Peter Raymundo, a quirky and informative tale of underwater life, great for children aged 3 to 5.

15

Be a reading role model. I personally think it’s important that children see us reading things that are not our phones!

part of the school day, with regular ‘silent sustained reading’ in the Middle School.

Students can read anything: scripts, non-fiction, newspapers, graphic novels. There is a constant stream of reading-related activities: recent author visits include best-selling authors Neal Shusterman, Jasmine Warga and Abby Cooper, hip-hop artist and poet Karl Nova, and motivational speaker and author Stuart Lawrence. Blind Date with a Book is popular: teachers wrap a book in paper, write a couple of basic things about it and give students a few minutes to read it and see if they like it. “A couple of years ago, Middle School did a project where students took pictures of themselves reading in interesting places,” says Leigh. “It supported the idea of reading as a thing you could do anywhere.”

And reading in your home language is crucial, says Catherine Jolly, Lower School Principal.

Literacy, she points out, is a transferable skill: if students learn to read or to enjoy reading in their own language, it’s then much easier to transfer to another language. But a student’s home language is also a vital part of who they are – and reading can help keep that part alive.

“Parents can feel that once they’re in an international setting, they should focus on English at home. But at home is the only time, for some of the kids, that they’re going to hear that language, as they’re no longer immersed in that language and that culture at school. So, when we ask parents to read with their children, we say that reading in their home language is very important. The joy of literature should come through your home language and your identity.”

And who knows where a burning passion for reading may lead? “We want our students to become engaged, lifelong readers who will pick up books into adulthood and read for fun,” says Leigh. “We want thoughtful, critical citizens who are engaged in reading forever.

But most of all, we want them to feel the sheer joy of reading.” Z

For the love of reading

4-7

Oliver McLaughlin, Class of 2028 (2021-23), loves to read the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.

Olivia Relander (Grade 8) is obsessed with Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.

Giulia Faccio (Grade 8) was sad to reach the end of Cinderella is Dead

by Kaylynn Bayron.

Sophie Stucki’s (Grade 8) favourite book is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

17

Flat hierarchies. Invisible bosses.

WFH. It’s work – although not as you know it. So in a constantly evolving business environment, how can you establish the ways of working you need to succeed?

• Words Pamela Evans • Photography Kate Peters

18

ZIS Voices

Jerome Albert

Class of 2015 (2009-15) Business Enablement Group CFO Chief of Staff at UBS

“Remote work – leading on project management and cross-functional collaboration – fuels my energy and drive by offering flexibility in my work-life balance.”

T

he gig economy. AI and automation. D&I. WFH. Welcome to the world of work – but not as you know it. From new tech to pandemic shifts to changing social attitudes, today’s workplace has undergone a revolution. “Across all industries, there seems to be this paradigm,” says Chia (Luchia) Nakada-Mallet, Class of 1999 (1995-99), Learning and Development Manager at PwC. “More and more, the business landscape is evolving rapidly and with uncertainty. And it requires us to be more adaptable and agile.”

So, what does the new workplace look like? Remote working, of course, is the most significant trend. Alex Lecanda-Moreno, Class of 2011 (2002-05), is Co-Chief Investment Officer at Goleta Fund, a family of investment funds.

“Whereas in the past, distance and time zones had more of an impact, remote working means it’s like we’re all now working in the same city.

In general, I think it’s positive – it’s provided for increased flexibility for everyone. And from the employer’s perspective, you can now tap into a wider talent pool. You’re no longer geographically restricted.”

Automation and AI are also starting to play a significant role, he says. “During my career, I witnessed the transformative impact of these technologies on areas as diverse as asset management and corporate law. When I was a trainee M&A lawyer at White & Case, an international law firm based in New York, I was tasked with revising extensive legal documents and many other small, repetitive tasks that demanded great attention to detail but little strategic thinking. Later, as a Portfolio Manager, my team and I had to manually sift through large datasets, which consumed a significant amount of time. Now, with the integration of AI models, we can analyse the data, allowing us to reach investment decisions much more efficiently.”

But the third pillar of the new workplace is perhaps surprising: more compassion. Wellbeing programmes supporting mental and physical health are commonplace, and diversity, inclusion

Transformation at work

19

Joana Asshauer

Class of 2014 (2003-14) Engagement Manager at Vivaldi Group

20

“The flexibility of remote work helps bridge borders throughout client engagements, empowering efficient collaboration and nurturing work-life balance.”

ZIS Voices

How to make your mark in the new workplace

Be confident. As a young graduate,

it can be daunting to share your opinion or ask questions. But if you don’t know, ask – it’s the only way to grow.

Be proactive. Take the initiative, and go to colleagues with solutions, not problems.

Be efficient. Time management and the ability to concentrate on one thing for set periods of time are hugely valuable skills which can be learned.

Be present. If you have the chance

and cultural to meet up with colleagues face to face, Vice-President competence are or to work in the office, take it. of Planning at more important global media than ever before, advertising agency Be on LinkedIn. It’s still the go-to says Michele Koch, professional platform for building Universal McCann Class of 1981 a network.

Worldwide. “It’s (1979-81), an an incredibly HR expert whose fast-paced Be connected. Build up your CV includes environment, and connections within the ZIS Global Siemens and it’s vital to separate Community at globalcommunity.zis.ch General Motors the personal from and who runs the professional.

Wow Corporate You can put Culture. “Diversity forward brilliant awareness is work that the reflective of the workforce – if you’re working client loves – and the next day they change their remotely, people can be anywhere. But also, minds. And that’s fine: it’s just part of the job.

I think society has changed and now has more You have to be able to separate yourself from the appreciation of different cultures. We all need work you do, to pivot and change from one task to learn how to embrace differences.” to the next, to keep up with the latest trends.”

The world changes and, sometimes without But while the new workplace allows for new even noticing, we change too. But for young opportunities and skillsets, it’s also a challenging people entering the workforce, adapting isn’t and unpredictable place. Uncertainty abounds: always so simple. What qualities do they need will AI really take my job? Will I get hired for to not just survive, but thrive? Adaptability and the next project? That’s why resilience – also open-mindedness – one of the ZIS Character one of the ZIS Character Standards – is vital.

Standards – will be key, says Alex. Although “Resilience is not just the ability to bounce back he trained as a lawyer and economist, not a from setbacks, it’s about maintaining a positive computer programmer, he found that his role outlook in the face of challenges,” says Chia. required him to learn some coding. “So, I just “So, foster a growth mindset. Be open to learning, took a Python course. We all need to be learning, embrace change and challenges and view failures all the time. Don’t be the person who reacts to as opportunities for growth.” Michele recalls change but the person who leads the change, who talking to a successful entrepreneur. “We asked is ahead of the curve and not just following.” about what he looked for when recruiting. He Adaptability also suits those who are prepared said that the number one thing was someone who to embrace the gig economy and a more had failed along the way – because, he thought, peripatetic form of working – something which if you haven’t failed along the way, you haven’t is becoming increasingly common as companies been trying hard enough.” look to hire more freelancers and short-term “Due to digital disruptions and technological contractors for specific projects. “The days of advancement, human skills such as critical being at a company for 30 years do not exist thinking and problem-solving are becoming even anymore,” says Michele. “Companies that get more valuable,” says Chia. “The ability to analyse someone in for a period of time and maximize complex situations, think creatively and propose their time before they move on are actually the innovative solutions will be what sets you apart.” smarter companies out there.”

Alex agrees. “Those monotonous, routine, A flexible mindset is never more important repetitive tasks – I think they’re going to than when working in client-facing roles, says disappear. That frees up time to look at the Samantha Rainer, Class of 2012 (2006-12), bigger picture: allowing you to think more about Transformation at work

21

Sven Beatrix

Class of 2014 (2009-14) Project Management Consultant at Q-Perior

“Working in a project-orientated field, supporting clients in banking, allows me to discover different ways of engagement.”

When recruiting, the number one thing he looked for was someone who had failed; if you haven’t failed along the way, he said, you haven’t been trying hard enough Transformation at work

strategy or portfolio optimisation. We’re all going to have to learn to adapt to more strategic and complex tasks that require having a little bit more criteria than the machine has.” Likewise, Michele believes everyone needs traditional communication skills. “The tried-and-trusted skills on how to write well and how to be a confident public speaker are vital, whether you’re having a virtual meeting or an in-person one.”

And as these virtual meetings could take place between people anywhere in the world, those who are comfortable with people from different cultural backgrounds will be much in demand. “Coming from an international school gives you that advantage over others,” says Alex.

Empathy goes along with this: understanding and considering others’ perspectives has never been so important. “It is essential to lead with empathy and foster positive relationships with colleagues and clients. And many companies are starting to realize that we should not neglect interpersonal skills and trusted leadership.

This is because it’s critical to be able to create psychological safety for people so that they can thrive in their workplace,” says Chia. It’s something Samantha finds, too. “Now that I work on global accounts, having that empathy and understanding of different cultures and their work styles is a huge thing,” she says.

Today’s workplace, of course, may not even resemble tomorrow’s workplace. The pace of change is such that the teens of 2024 will likely end up doing jobs that don’t even exist yet. For instance, who had even heard of an AI prompt engineer or a Spotify playlist editor ten years ago? But don’t dread the future. Stay openminded, resilient, adaptable and empathetic, and the new world of work offers opportunities that workers a few decades ago could never dream of.

“My mentors joke that I was like a little kid pulling on somebody’s jacket when I saw them having a free moment!” says Samantha. “I’d always be asking: ‘Can you explain this? Why do we do this this way? What about this thing I learned in this meeting with a partner or a new tech company? Why don’t we use that?’ Asking those questions, having that curiosity, and then becoming a semi-expert in any of those areas of interest puts you ahead of the pack. And I think that that’s been a huge part of why I’ve progressed rapidly in my career.”

Back in the old days, there was something called a career ladder, says Michele – and if someone was sitting on the rung above you, you were stuck. That’s not the case anymore, and that’s a good thing. “You can move sideways, you can move down, you can move across – you can move all kinds of different ways if you broaden your skill set and figure out what you want to experience. The journey will take a whole bunch of turns that you can’t possibly imagine – so just enjoy it.” Z 23

Medicine by

24

ZIS Voices

design

Medicine by design

The biggest miracle of modern medicine? Targeted treatment.

ZIS alumni are leading the charge.

• Words Lucy Jolin • Illustration Andrew Baker

A

ntibiotics. Immunotherapy. Antivirals. Medical imaging. The 20th century saw an unparalleled pharmaceutical revolution, saving countless lives. But the next stages of development may be even more rapid and extraordinary. From gene therapy to lab-grown cells, mRNA vaccine technology to AI disease detection, world-changing innovation is happening in the life sciences industry every day.

And this is just the beginning.

“There are so many unanswered questions,” says life sciences consultant Kipras Undzenas, Class of 2018 (2015-18).

“You never know what the next one will be. There are amazing successes: the pandemic, particularly, demonstrated how important it is to collaborate quickly to make a vaccine for the whole world. Yet every month we hear about big drug trials that have failed. How did that happen? Why did that happen?

What can we learn? It never stops.”

Professor Nicola Stoner, Class of 1984 (1979-84), became England’s first Consultant Cancer Pharmacist in 2007. She says the future is so exciting thanks to the new lines of treatment now available. “I love working in cancer because we have so many new drugs coming through all the time,” says Nicola, who currently leads a team of 48 people providing cancer pharmacy services at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – one of the biggest trusts in the UK. “There is a lot of investment in cancer drugs across the world, and these drugs are becoming more and more targeted.

We are keeping patients alive for longer.”

A career in pharmacy, says Nicola, is so much more than dispensing in a pharmacy store – though, of course, community pharmacists play an incredibly important role, particularly during the Covid pandemic and the recently launched Pharmacy First services in England, which enables patients to get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. “I think careers in hospital pharmacy are exciting and varied, and you can work in any discipline. You can rotate across disciplines, taking a path that leads to chief pharmacist or consultant pharmacist. Or you could go into research, or the pharmaceutical industry. We are also starting to target patient treatments aligned with their genetics. That will be a really novel and interesting role for pharmacists in the future.”

The life sciences industry is vast, with many different pathways and specialisms – and, surprisingly for those interested in entering, you don’t always need a science degree.

Felix Baldauf-Lenschen, Class of 2010 (2006-10) is founder 25

ZIS Science and Innovation Exhibition a success

ZIS is focused on making STEM engaging by integrating project-based STEM learning through curricular and co-curricular experiences.

The inaugural Science and Innovation Exhibition in April showcased success, from student projects in Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences to F1 in Schools and robotics competitions. zis.ch/our-big-ideas/STEM

and CEO at Altis Labs, an AI company that works with pharmaceutical companies to help measure the efficacy of their drugs more accurately. He studied Economics at Colby College in the US and then worked for investment firm Cambridge Association in San Francisco.

It was, he says, a hugely exciting time in Silicon Valley, as new AI applications in medicine began to emerge. Venture capitalists grasped their potential, and so did Felix. In 2016, he joined Enlitic, a company that pioneered the use of deep learning for radiological imaging. He learned about the importance of imaging in measuring treatment response, and realised that better tools were needed to improve the economics of drug development, which are constrained by significant clinical trial costs, timelines, and failure rates.

Three years later, he founded Altis Labs, based in Toronto, with one aim: to help get the best drugs to market sooner.

He says that the life sciences need people who can work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, health and tech.

“At Altis, we look upon ourselves as a tech company. We write code: that’s our product. We don’t have any lab space.

But other key aspects of our business include data curation, AI research, radiology and biostatics. All these fields are now using tech in different ways. And then you need the business side – to set the vision, execute a plan and sell the product.”

Those with deep specialisms and expertise are, of course, absolutely crucial – but so are those who can take the wide view.

“Being across all those different areas and bringing in smart people who are experts in their field is what gets me excited,” says Felix. “There is obviously so much more to explore across different disease areas. Our initial focus has been in lung cancer – the leading cause of cancer mortality – and we are now expanding into other cancer types and beyond to respiratory, cardiovascular disease and neurogenerative diseases.”

Although Kipras has a science degree – an integrated Master’s in Biochemistry from University College London – he knew that working in a lab wasn’t for him. Instead, he joined the London office of life sciences consultancy firm Kx Advisors. Consulting, he points out, is a fast-moving, clientfacing and collaborative role. “One of the things that pushed me away from labs and research was the inherently slow process. Research cannot go fast: that’s just how it is. You work by yourself a lot. As a consultant, while you do need to work independently, you also need to come together as a team to discuss findings and communicate them effectively.”

He sees life sciences consulting as the perfect stepping stone. “You’re introduced to the questions that the life sciences industry tries to answer, so you get a good knowledge of what 26

ZIS Voices

Certain qualities are vital – curiosity and initiative, being a team player... and patience

Medicine by design

you need to know to be in the industry. Take gene therapies, for example – they are very expensive. So what’s the actual price of treating the patient over 40 years versus giving this one gene therapy?” In the future, he’s hoping to move to the client side, in a pharma or a biotech company. “I want to help create these new drugs that might save more patients, that might be more affordable, and will push the boundaries further.”

Life sciences consulting certainly gave Miguel Campos Silva, Class of 2009 (2005-09), Strategy Director at OMass Therapeutics, the commercial experience he needed for his current role. After he gained his BSc in Biochemistry at the University of St Andrews and MSc in International Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, he became a specialist life sciences consultant at consulting firm Navigant, working on projects for large pharmaceutical companies, before moving to OMass Therapeutics. It’s an earlystage biotech company based in Oxford, England, that uses an innovative technique – native mass spectrometry – to search for new medicines for immune-system related conditions and other rare diseases. The company currently has six products in the pipeline, including treatments for epilepsy, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease.

“My job is to try and match a scientist’s idea with its best real-world application, and see if that makes sense from a commercial perspective,” Miguel explains. “For example, a scientist might want to create a drug to target a particular protein in the body. OK, so what does that protein do in the body? Have other drugs tried to do this? Have they been successful? If not, why do we think our drug is better?”

The best thing about his job, he says, is “making sense of lots of different data scattered around. There’s no better feeling than reading papers, doing analysis and connecting all the dots. Every day, you’re reading about new potential applications, about people trying to come up with new medicines. That’s what drives me and the company.

Ultimately, we want to bring these medicines to patients.” Plus, he enjoys the business insight that comes from working for a small biotech. “I wear a lot of hats – for example, I also run our comms and social media, which I never thought I’d do!”

But whatever pathway you take – and whether you choose to work in the lab or in the boardroom, or both – certain qualities are vital. “Curiosity and initiative, first and foremost,” says Felix. “At school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do long term, but I knew there were some topics that I was interested in. The opportunities offered by the internship program were fantastic, however: it allowed me to get a head start with relevant and real work experience in finance before any of my university classmates. It was learning by doing.

That gave me options.” Nicola says being a team player is crucial – as is a willingness to work hard. “You’ve got to put the hard work in, be conscientious, and go the extra mile.”

And patience is key in an industry where just one in ten drugs in clinical trials actually make it to market.

Expertise, tech and ingenuity may well solve many of these mysteries in the next 100 years. But in the life sciences, there will always be a new answer to seek. Z 27

My passion

Like a duck to water: Ella Teplitsky-Kahn says swimming time is her favourite part of the week.

• Words Megan Welford • Photography Kate Peters

T

here’s one place that Ella Teplitsky-Kahn (Grade 4) feels completely at home – in the pool. “As long as I’m in the water, I’m OK,” she says. “If I’m feeling mad or sad, I get in the pool and it makes me happy.”

She has loved swimming for as long as she can remember.

“When I was two or three, my mum would fill the bath for me as high as possible and I’d put on my bathing suit and go ‘swimming’. In my first ever swimming lesson, when I was maybe around four, apparently I doggy-paddled straight away.

I’ve never been afraid of the water, although I don’t like being in water where there are fish! I’m scared of fish.”

She joined the ZIS swim team as soon as she could – at the start of Grade 4 – and has already flown through her first inter-school competition, coming When I’m in the water, in the first six in each of her strokes I’m OK. If I feel mad – breaststroke, front crawl, relay and her or sad, I get in the pool favourite, butterfly. and it makes me happy The competitions are designed to give Lower School students an insight into a competitive environment and prepare them for the transition to Middle School.

“My swimming teacher, Ms Wright, saw how much my friend Lucy and I both loved swimming and suggested we try out for the swim team,” she says. “Luckily, we both got in! Monday is my favourite day of the week because My passion

I have swim training. Ms Wright is really nice and kind.

She says it doesn’t matter if you win – it matters if you join in and if you have fun.

“I do want to win, but mainly I just like being in the water, and swimming as fast as I can. In a race it feels different, though; it happens so fast, you don’t really know how fast you’re going, or how much time has passed.”

The swimming programme offers the perfect opportunity to compete at the same meets as students of all ages – a true one-school event. “I was really nervous before my first competition in Adliswil. I just wanted to get my first race over with. The second I was even more nervous, but in the third and fourth I had fun.”

Winning means prize ribbons, which Ella keeps in a drawer in her bedroom to admire from time to time, and it can also mean healthy competition with her friend, Lucy. “We do compete, but sometimes we agree to make it a tie. We never fall out for long,” she says. “Mostly we compete against ourselves: I ask Ms Wright to time me and I try to get a faster speed, from 10 seconds, to nine, to eight… until it’s impossible.”

She also has private lessons, and then there are the times she can persuade her mum to take her to the pool again, or to the lake in summer. “I just want to get my head under the water, because it feels really nice.”

And her ultimate swimming goal? “It’s not really me to want to be in the Olympics,” she says. “Even though I’m competitive, that doesn’t interest me. But I always want to be in the swim team. I won’t ever stop swimming.” Z 29

Sechseläuten Miguel Burger-Calderon, Class of 2006 (2003-06), revels in the winter celebrations – music, horses, carriages and a three-and-a-half-metre snowman.

• Words Jo Caird

XINHUA / ALAMY

30

UDO BERNHART/ MAURITIUS IMAGES/ ALAMY

ZIS Voices

I

Canton

t’s three and a half metres tall, resembles a slightly forbidding snowman, and the speed at which its head explodes is said to predict Zurich’s weather for the coming summer. And for Miguel Burger-Calderon, Class of 2006 (2003-06), the Böögg is the most vivid reminder of his childhood spring celebrations.

“I can clearly remember standing and waiting for the explosives in the head to go off,” he recalls. “It’s like a firework display. And of course everybody wants it to go as fast as possible, because the tradition is that the faster the head explodes, the better the summer will be.”

Since the end of the 19th century, the burning of the Böögg has been a central part of April’s Sechseläuten festival. This vibrant tradition also sees members of Zurich’s ancient guild system march through the city to celebrate the anniversary of the “Sächsilüüte”, when 16th-century guild members first marked the beginning of spring with the ringing of the bell at six o’clock in the city’s famous Grossmünster church. Around 3,500 guild members and 3,000 children in traditional costumes take part, alongside horseback riders, carriages and music corps. And since 1991, one canton has been invited as a guest of honour – this year it was Appenzell Ausserrhoden’s turn.

Miguel attended the parade for the first time aged around five – and he’s repeated the experience pretty much every year since. There’s a separate children’s parade accompanying the Böögg on its journey to Sechseläutenplatz, but the very youngest tend to walk alongside their fathers in the main event (not yet with their mothers: women were only invited to join the procession for the first time relatively recently, though the role of women is set to expand going forward).

“Between the parade and the burning of the Böögg, it’s a very action-packed day for a kid,” Miguel says with a smile.

These days, the venture capitalist is based in New York City, but not even an eight-hour flight can keep him from his favourite Swiss tradition. “Every year, my brother Max and

ANDREE KAISER / AGENCJA FOTOGRAFICZNA CARO / ALAMY

Canton

I fly to Zurich on the Friday of Sechseläuten weekend,” Miguel says. The days that follow are a whirlwind of formal guild events, socialising with friends and family, and of course the parade itself.

As a member of the Constaffel, the merchants’ guild, Miguel marches in traditional grey livery. The guild’s emblem, a fierce looking red hound, is proudly displayed on his chest, and while some of the younger attendees have to wear what is essentially chain mail, Miguel and Max have it easy.

“We are very lucky,” says Miguel. “Our costumes are super comfortable.” But it’s not all formality. “A lot of Zurich friends who’ve come to watch the parade come up and say hi, and we’ll often have a drink with them while we’re waiting for the procession to move on,” says Miguel.

It’s a family affair too. Although Miguel’s mother doesn’t march herself, she takes part in the traditional way by giving each of her sons a bouquet of flowers as they pass. One day, Miguel says, he hopes his own children will take part in the Sechseläuten with him. “I love watching my guild friends walking with their kids. If we lived in Zurich, my seven-year-old son would definitely have walked for the first time this year.”

Beyond the family element though, what makes the Sechseläuten so special and enduring for Miguel is its grounding as a wholly Zurich tradition. “It’s very social,” he says. “It’s something for the whole city.” Z

BURGER-CALDERON FAMILY

31

My working day Christian Heraty, Class of 1994 (1992-94), Founding Board Member of digital transformation specialists GEODESIC. • Interview Clare Thorp • Photography Kate Peters

T

hey say there’s a niche for everyone, and five years after starting my consultancy firm, I feel confident I’ve found mine. And the success I’ve been able to carve out is, in large part, due to the way we were encouraged to think freely and creatively at school – the open, international mindset instilled in me there has shaped my career.

In a changing world of work, grabbing opportunities as they appear is vital. The pandemic forced companies to adopt new technologies rapidly, but many did it without any structure or strategy and now they’re dealing with the aftermath of that. So, I have combined my business management degree with 25 years’ experience in online, IT, business consulting and an interest in human behavioral psychology to respond to transformation. Our company, GEODESIC AG, partners with multinational companies overwhelmed by the amount of technology on offer, working with them to define their vision and map what they want their workplace to look like. It’s incredibly satisfying helping them to solve the puzzle.

My business partners and I all work differently. One works almost exclusively from home, another comes into the office a couple of times I week. I like the change in scenery and headspace I get from coming into the office. I immediately switch into work mode, but when it comes to remote working there’s no right or wrong solution.

If you’ve got the opportunity to choose where you work, it’s about finding the place where you feel your best and most creative self.

32

I know people who work in transit on the go, and even one who commutes to work by kayak, weather permitting.

When I’m not in the office I might be on site with a client, either in Switzerland or internationally. A big part of my job also involves going to conferences and giving presentations, and writing thoughtleadership articles. While I will always have a touch of stage-fright, it’s never really been a problem, thanks to MUN, theater and my band playing at the Arts Festival at school, which helped me deal with that long before I even got to university.

I met some of my greatest mentors at school, and I’m still in contact with some – such as history teacher Andreas Meitanis and my rugby coach Steve Burnham – today. I’m grateful to still be connected with ZIS by taking students through the internship program. It’s been a fantastic experience and has really renewed my hope for the future, because the interns are so ambitious, energetic and curious.

Many are concerned about what they should study for their career.

My advice to them is – unless you know you want to be a doctor – pursue what interests you. My career didn’t exist when I started out, and the job market is changing rapidly. You can’t predict where things are going, so adaptability is the most important skill they can have.

Oh, and make sure you live a full life. When I’m not working I ski, play in a band and read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi. I like to indulge the nerd in me – both at work and at home. Z ZIS Voices